Latent Expressions
A Fusion of AI and Human Stories
In the ever-evolving artificial intelligence (AI) world, converging human creativity with machines’ capabilities produces thought-provoking outcomes. This project is a testament to the potential that arises when an AI researcher’s technical prowess intertwines with the artistic vision of Lin, Pei-Han, an interdisciplinary artist renowned for her multidimensional explorations across various artistic mediums. Lin, Pei-Han’s portfolio encompasses various disciplines, including painting, moving images, sculpture, architecture, installation, sound, and text. Her works delve into politics, environmental justice, and human rights, using a blend of analog and digital data forensics, site-specific installations, and empathetic methodologies. In this collaboration, Lin is embarking on a journey into the heart of Generative Models, particularly StyleGAN, to create a fusion of technology and artistic expression that transcends conventional boundaries. Together, we seek to unravel the possibilities that lie at the intersection of AI and artistry, creating images that captivate the eye and provoke contemplation.
The Fusion of Technology and Creativity
The project’s core involves harnessing the power of Generative Models to generate and manipulate images. StyleGAN, in particular, has gained immense popularity for its ability to create lifelike, high-resolution photos that blur the line between reality and simulation. The initial step in this collaboration was to encode existing images of the authorities into the latent space of the StyleGAN model. This process allows for extracting latent representations that encapsulate the essence of the input images, effectively reducing them to their building blocks.
Navigating the Latent Space
Once these latent representations were obtained, we manipulated the latent vectors to traverse along different directions. We incorporated several boundary conditions into the latent space traversal. These conditions acted as guiding principles, influencing the generation of new images. As they moved through the latent space, they brought forth new faces. These new faces became a canvas for artistic expression, representing a blend of technology and human creativity.
Artistry with a Message
However, this project is not merely about the artistic exploration of AI’s capabilities. It carries a message embedded within its creations. The artist’s statement speaks of the Norwegian Government’s stance on China’s development path and Taiwanese citizens’ rights in Norway. The juxtaposition of these politically charged statements with AI-generated images is a protest gesture. It highlights the violation of fundamental human rights visually strikingly, underlining the potency of art as a medium for social commentary and change.
The artist’s statement within the project eloquently addresses the Norwegian Government’s stance on China’s development path and, significantly, the plight of Taiwanese citizens residing in Norway. An interview was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s viewpoint and the connection of these images with her. Charlotte Bendiks conversed with Lin, Pei-Han to explore her perspective on the project’s themes and her experiences living in Norway.
Indeed, this creative marriage of technology and art serves a dual purpose. On one hand, it captures the violation of fundamental human rights. On the other hand, it underscores the potential of art as a potent medium for social commentary and change. By infusing the project with her personal experiences and insights, Lin adds a layer of authenticity and emotional depth that resonates with viewers. You can also put regular text between your rows of images. Say you wanted to write a little bit about your project before you posted the rest of the images. You describe how you toiled, sweated, bled for your project, and then… you reveal its glory in the next row of images.
Exhibitions
This project has been exhibited in several venues. These exhibitions encapsulated the project’s fusion of technology and art. They spark dialogues on human rights and identity while transcending traditional boundaries to inspire discourse far beyond the gallery’s walls.